This volume is based on the proceedings of an International Symposium on "Cytochrome Systems: Molecular Biology and Bioenergetics" that was held at Selva di Fasano near Bari, Italy, between April 7 and 11,1987. It contains papers covering the subjects discussed at the Symposium, contributed both by participants of the meeting and by some invited speakers who were not able to attend. The aim of the Symposium was to bring together experts in various rese arch strategies currently being applied to the study of cytochrome systems, including molecular genetics, protein chemistry, enzymology of electron transfer and protonmotive activity in energy-transducing biological mem branes. Because of the high degree of complexity of cytochrome systems and the increasing sophistication in recent years of the different experimen tal approaches, there has been a growing specialization - sometimes even a tendency to "over-specialization" - among scientists working in this field. This in itself seemed to justify a meeting where representatives of various disciplines could exchange their results and discuss their conclusions. In addition, and perhaps even more importantly, it was felt that meetings of this kind provide an opportunity for a "cross-fertilization" of approaches and ideas among representatives of various fields of science. The present meeting proved to be an ample illustration of the success of such an inter action.
The Expert Committee on Biomaterials and Biotechnology for the European and the North American Region was founded by the General Assembly of UNESCO at its 21st Session, in 1981. The Committee comprises a Coordinating Group and four working Groups, defined in the following scientific areas: Group I Proteins: source, structure and function. Group II Nucl~ic acids: the hereditary materials. Group III Im~une materials and mechanisms. Membranes and transport in biosystems. Group IV In fulfilment of one of the objectives of the Committee, which have been adopted by the General Assembly of UNESCO in 1981, namely the intensification of the exchange of scientific information on biomaterials and biotechnology, working Group IV organized an international workshop on Ion Interactions in Energy Transport Systems, which was convened in Athens, Greece, from 8 to 12 April, 1985. Scientific papers presented at that workshop make up the chapters presented in this volume. The present volume focusses on natural and artificial membranes that are involved in energy transduction. Several chapters are devoted to membranes and membrane components that convert and utilize light, such as the thylakoid membrane of oxygenic photosynthetic organisms (eukaryotic and prokaryotic), the chromatophore membrane of nonoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria and the purple membrane of the halophilic bacteria. Other systems examined include the mitochondrial membranes and their adenine nucleotide carrier, the plasma membrane of animal cells, and lipid bilayer vesicles, either reconstituted or not, with enzymes.
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